hydrometer with mercury weight
Date: circa 1940
Inventory Number: 2002-1-0025c
Classification: Hydrometer
Maker: American
Cultural Region:
Dimensions:
14.8 x 1.6 x 1.6 cm (5 13/16 x 5/8 x 5/8 in.)
storage: 3.4 x 14.5 x 19.5 cm (1 5/16 x 5 11/16 x 7 11/16 in.)
Description:
A small glass tube very narrow for one-half of its length while the other half has two bulbs, one at the end filled with mercury, followed by another one which is filled with air. The narrow section has a paper scale inside.
Paper label is marked: "Specific Gravity Scale for Heavy Liquids, Temp. 60°F."
Box is marked "COUNTWAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE" and "John Roch / Lab eqpt. / contains MERCURY / HG."
Paper label is marked: "Specific Gravity Scale for Heavy Liquids, Temp. 60°F."
Box is marked "COUNTWAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE" and "John Roch / Lab eqpt. / contains MERCURY / HG."
Signedunsigned
FunctionThis is a hydrometer specifically designed to determine the specific gravity of heavy liquids. One releases it into the liquid, where it will float in an upright position. The specific gravity is marked by the level reached by the liquid's surface on the scale.
ProvenanceFrom the Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.